Holder for small dental instruments



' April 14, 1970 -M..GARNIER 0 HOLDER FOR SMALL DENTAL INSTRUMENTS FiledOct. 18, 1968 United States Patent Int. (:1. 1335.1 85/20 US. Cl. 206-163 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A holder for small dentalinstruments having a sloping box-shaped structure withvertically-extending posts between which the handles of the instrumentsare frictionally engaged.

This invention relates to a holder for small dental instruments.

Most small instruments, in particular those used in den.

tistry, for example, burs, drills and the like are available in smallboxes Which can also be used to store the instruments after use.

Holders or display boxes presently known fall into three generalcategories.

In the first, the instruments are positioned in a box which has a coverwhich may be of the rotating or sliding type. It is thus possible touncover the instruments one by one. However, it is necessary to overturnthe box in order to remove the instrument with the risks of it fallingon a non-sterile surface.

A second type consists in arranging the instruments in a box which hasparallel closed compartments. This requires breaking of the seal byhand.

A third type consists of a box so formed that by sliding or pivoting acover at the end thereof all the instruments are available. Such adevice has the drawback of risking the dropping the instruments and ofnot making them individually available.

The invention has for its object to provide a holder for small dentalinstruments which makes possible a ready display and storage of theinstruments without requiring the operation of any movable part or theforcing open of a closure.

To this effect, the invention is concerned with a display holder forsmall dental instruments characterized in that it comprises frictionalretention means for the handles of the instruments.

The invention will be better understood by referring to the followingdescription and to the accompanying drawing in which:

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FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a display holder according to theinvention.

FIGURE 2 is a partial top view thereof.

The holder 1 has the shape of a box of sloping configuration which canbe of synthetic material. It is divided into a number of compartments 2by means of verticallyextending separator posts placed between the twoside Walls 4 and 5 of the box.

Each post 3 extends in its upper part forming fingers 6 and 6 spacedfrom one another by a slot 7. The edges 8, 8' of fingers 6 or 6' facingcompartment 2 have a curvature which corresponds to the cylindricalcurvature complementary to the rounded handles 9 of the instruments 10.

The location of fingers 6 and 6' is so dimensioned that the round handle9 of instrument 10 will fit snugly between them. By virtue of the factthat the fingers 6 and 6' of the separator posts 3 have resiliency, thehandle 9 is held firmly, but may be removed at will at any time.

The height of fingers 6, 6' may for example be half that of the lengthof the handles 9. They thus maintain these along a suflicient surfacebut allow the upper part of handles 9 to remain free to facilitatewithdrawal from compartments 2.

All sorts of instruments can be placed in the holder in accordance withthe invention. For example, it is possible to position therein drillswhich are to be put in a sterilizer. The shanks of the drills will thusbe presented to the user Without having been withdrawn from theirsterile media.

What is claimed is:

1. A display holder for instruments having cylindrical handles, such asused in dentistry, comprising a box-like structure of slopingconfiguration having walls defining a trough, vertically-extendingseparator posts dividing said trough into a plurality of compartments,each adapted to hold an instrument, said vertically-extending separatorposts comprising semi-circular fingers having a contour complementary tothe handles of said instruments and adapted to surround the same forretention and location.

2. A holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein said separator posts areU-shaped elements having upright fingers of a trapezoidal cross section.

3. A holder in accordance with claim 1 wherein said separator posts areof a resilient material for frictional contact with said handles.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,666,967 1/1954 Poitras 206162,910,173 10/1959 Fenburr 206l6 JAMES B. MARBERT, Primary Examiner

